maybe one day ~neteyam sully

nine

A deafening silence welcomed Akina as she woke, the girl forcing herself to take deep breaths as she buried her head into her mother's neck. Akina had laid with her mother the night before, the two finding comfort in each other as they cried themselves to sleep. Neither one of them had laid a finger on Antus bedroll that was still strewn across the floor.

Akina felt her mother stir next to her, her mothers arms tightening around her daughters back. The young girl felt her mother leave a soft kiss on the top of her head, Akina silently turning her head up to meet her mothers eyes. The woman gently tucked one of her daughters braids behind her ear, stroking her cheek softly.

"I have to go hunting." Her mother whispered, Akina simply nodding. She knew it wasnt her mothers way of 'ignoring' Antus death, but accepting it. Her mother was the definition of warrior, and being in the forest had always calmed the woman down. Let her feel and think. The day after Akinas father died, her mother had gone hunting as well. Some people grieve differently, and Akina understood her mothers way to grieve. "When would you like me to be back?"

"Whenever you are ready." The young girl whispered back, in return receiving a small sad smile from her mother. The woman placed another kiss on the top of her daughters head, gently climbing out of Akinas arms and grabbing her weapons. The young girl listened to her mother leave, curling into a ball as her eyes settled on Antus bedroll. Silent tears left her eyes, causing her to squeeze them shut as she took a shuddering breath.

Her ears twitched as she heard footsteps nearing, her eyes staying closed as the flaps to the tent gently opened. She listened as someone walked towards her, the smell of wood and rain filling her nose before Neteyam could lay next to her. Her eyes opened, watching as the boy took his spot next to her, folding his arm under his head and placing his free hand on the girls hip. His thumb drew lazy circles over her skin, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin as she met his eyes.

"Ma'Kiki." Neteyam whispered in greeting, Akina slowly blinking at him.

"Hi.." She whispered back, her throat still sore from the night before. He gave her a gentle smile, scooting closer to her to press his forehead against hers as their eyes closed. "How are they?"

Neteyam let out a gentle sigh, his breath fanning over her face like a kiss of the wind. "Kiri is heartbroken. Lo'ak will not stop blaming himself. Tuk... she can not stop crying." The girl let out a matching sigh to his, her eyes opening to stare at his necklace. "They want to come see you. I told them it may take time."

Akinas chest warmed at his thoughtfulness, her hand moving from the curled up position against her chest to play with the boys necklace. "They can come."

"Yeah? Are you sure?" Neteyam asked softly, pulling his head away from hers to meet her eyes. She slowly pulled her eyes away from his necklace to meet his, nodding.

"I do not want them to think i hate them. I just... i can barely move." Akina whispered again, Neteyam nodding his head in understanding.

"They understand just like i do, Ma'Kiki. My mother would like to see you as well, but tomorrow. She wants you to rest. I think my dad is scared to see you."

The girls eyebrows scrunched together, confusion lacing her face. Neteyam carried on, not wanting to Akina to feel like she had to talk.

"When he was human, he lost his brother as well. He never talks about it, but anytime something like... this... happens, he becomes quiet for a while. My mother is the only one who can pull him out of it, and even then it takes a few days."

Akina nodded slightly in understanding, a few tears slipping from her eyes once again. Neteyam raised the hand that rested on her hip to her face, gently wiping away her tears before cupping her cheek.